Foundations for Growth: A Tanager & Meraki Podcast

In this episode, we look at what’s happening in children’s brains and bodie s during transitions and offer simple, effective strategies that help classrooms move together with more ease, connection, and respect for shared spaces. Transitions don’t have to be chaotic! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. You...

In this episode, we explore why everyday shifts feel so big for young children. Whether it’s leaving the park, leaving the house, shifting to bedtime routines, or other shifts. We talk about simple, practical ways to support children’s developing skills and bring more steadiness into the moments that often unravel the day: transitions We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast...

In this episode, we explore what it really means to give the classroom back to the children, how to see the academic learning woven into everyday play, movement, and routines, and how to describe that learning to adults outside the environment with clarity and confidence. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey...

In this episode, we explore how to keep young children safe, supported, and growing in the summer without losing yourself to the pressure of making summer “magical.” We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback helps us understand the impact these conversations are having in the community. https://for...

In this episode, we explore how children use movement to build their brains, regulate their bodies, and develop the foundations for later learning and how teachers can honor them in developmentally appropriate ways. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback helps us understand the impact these conv...

In this episode, we have a warm, practical look at how young children grow through movement from wobbly steps to fearless climbs. We explore what physical development really looks like, how to support safe risk-taking, and how to stay grounded as your child’s body and confidence grows. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to comple...

In this episode, we take a quick, practical look at how communication develops in play-rich classrooms. Learn what communication looks like beyond words, how play fuels language growth, and how adults can model, narrate, and respond in way that build connection and confidence. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this s...

In this episode, we explore the many ways children communicate long before they speak and how parents can support early language development through simple, responsive interactions We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback helps us understand the impact these conversations are having in the communi...

In this episode, we explore what cognitive development really looks like in early childhood and how hands-on play, a thoughtful environment, and responsive adult support help children make sense of their world. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback helps us understand the impact these conversat...

We explore how children think, learn, and make sense of their world. From imaginative explanations to early problem‑solving, we look at the developmental logic behind children’s ideas — and how parents can support growing minds with curiosity, patience, and connection. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Y...

In this episode, we’ll unpack what emotional safety really is, how social and emotional skills develop, and why behavior is best understood through the lens of the nervous system. Learn how your everyday interactions create the safety children need to learn, connect, and thrive. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this...

We explore how children grow socially and emotionally through connection, co-regulation, and the small everyday moments that shape the social brain. We look at why big feelings are normal, why skills develop slowly, and how our presence helps children learn who they are in the world. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete...

In this episode, we explore how children’s brains develop and why understanding brain-states helps educators respond to behavior with clarity, compassion, and effectiveness. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback helps us understand the impact these conversations are having in the community. htt...

In this episode, we explore the neuroscience behind early development and why children grow best through connection, predictability, play, and presence. A grounding, research-informed conversation that helps parents see challenging behaviors as part of a developing brain…not a failing one. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to co...

In this bonus episode the invisible labor, developmental science, and the professional decision-making that defines the work of the early childhood professionals. We offer a grounded call to action for showing up with confidence in your expertise. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback helps us...

In this bonus episode, we take a quiet look at the circles of care surrounding both children and parents. From teachers and neighbors to chosen family and supportive friends, this episode invites you to notice the circles of care that shape everyday family life. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your fee...

In this episode, we unpack the real learning inside everyday play and show how teachers can support it with confidence, intention, and joy. Play isn’t “extra,” it’s how young children learn. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback helps us understand the impact these conversations are having in t...

In this episode, we explore how tiny moments of presence during your child’s play can build connection, support regulation, and bring a little more calm into the beautiful chaos of everyday parenting. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback helps us understand the impact these conversations are h...

In this episode, we explore the learning hidden inside play, the essential role adults play in supporting it, and how to stay steady when families or administrators push for more “academics.” Through a relatable vignette, you’ll see how play builds the foundations children truly need. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complet...

In this episode, we explore how everyday play builds the foundation for persistence, problem-solving, and perspective-taking. Through vivid stories and parent-friendly insights, you’ll see how joining your child’s play, even awkwardly, can transform chaos into connection and reveal the learning woven into every playful moment. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you...

In this episode, we explore how developmental expectations shape routines, responsibilities, relationships, and discipline in early childhood. We highlight why pushing academics too soon creates shaky foundations, and how honoring each stage builds persistence, curiosity, and confidence; the architecture young children need for lifelong growth. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and t...

In this episode, we explore developmental milestones; what they mean, why the path is rarely straight, and how to navigate the “what ifs” with confidence. You’ll hear practical reassurance about uneven growth, guidance on when to seek support, and a reflection that reframes milestones as part of a winding journey. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, p...

Rupture is inevitable in early childhood classrooms, and repair is powerful. In this episode, we unpack what rupture looks like with children and adults, and how simple, honest repair moments can restore connection and shape a more resilient classroom culture. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedb...

In this episode, we explore what emotional regulation looks like in young children and the adults caring for them. We break down what gets in the way, share practical tools for tough moments, walk through real-life situations, and offer a relatable vignette to bring it all together. It’s a grounded, compassionate guide for weathering big feelings. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode an...

In this episode, we explore how predictable daily rhythms and attuned adult presence create emotional safety in early childhood classrooms. You’ll learn practical strategies for building steady flow, supporting regulation, and helping children feel secure, connected, and ready to learn We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast. If you have time, please take a moment to comple...